Locomotive front-end support



June 19, 1928.

H. VISSERING LOGOMOTIVE FRONT END SUPPORT Filed May 1:. 1922 l atented June 19, 1928.

UNET

. TENT 1- ii HARRY VISSERING, or KENILWORTH, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE onnnnn COMPANY,

on CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A coRroRA'rIon or ILLINOIS.

LOCOMOTIVE FRONT-END SUPPORT.

Application filed May 13,1922. Serial No. 560,563.

This invention relates to closure supports and particularly to a support for the type of closure used in boilersof railway locomotives, and commonly termed the front end as it is the plate for forming the forward end of the boiler.

This closure plate for the front end of a boiler is large and extremely heavyand according to approved railway practice-is secured to the boiler front end by a great num ber of stud bolts and nuts circumferentially arranged adjacent the outer edge of the front end plate. To make the joint between the boiler front and the front end plate absolutely tight, the nuts are turned down as closely as possible. When it is desired to remove the front end plate to reach the inside of the boiler shell, the nuts are all removed and the front end plate moved away from the boiler shell. "l'o loosen this front end plate and move it away from the boiler shell is rendered extremely difiicult as there will be a tendency for the front end plate to stick due to the rusting of the parts and of the action of the elements, aside from the factor of its great weight.

Still another difficulty encountered in the removal of this front end plate is that its weight is such that a crane and tackle or the like is found necessary to carry the weight of the plate as soon as it is moved away from its position of support by the boiler. This necessitates, that the engine be moved to a spot where such crane and tackle are at hand.

Again, when an attachment in the form of a hinge structure has been used by me, it has been found necessary to provide for lineal as well as pivotal movement of the parts in order to permit a sliding movement of the front end on the stud bolts.

is objectionable inasmuch as there is not only a tendency to wear, but since two of such hinge structures are commonly, if not in fact, necessarily, employed by me, the possibility of such lineal movement involves the possibility, if not at times indeed the likelihood, of canting and consequent binding, owing to the tendency of the front end to swing downward about the lower hinge structure as an axis. a

The principal objects of this invention, therefore, are to provide an improved arrangement whereby the front end plate can be moved away from the boiler front with This lineal J movement of the parts ofthe hinge structure 7 out the expenditure of the amount of time and effort now required; the provisionol' an improved mounting between the front end plate and boiler front nowin use generally which will permit the employment of the pivoted connection between such front end plate and boiler front; the provision of an improved construction by which the end closure 'plate may be moved laterally away from the boiler front without at the same time moving it bodily forward; the pro vision of an improved construction whereby the end closure plate can be moved away from the boiler front without at the same time moving it away from its position of support by the boiler; the provision of a novelarrangement which permits the front end plate. to be swung to the side of the boiler front-so as'to pernnt free access to the boiler interi'or without at the same timewithdrawing the end plate from its position of supportby the boiler; the provision of improved means whereby the end closure ,plate'may be secured to the boiler front by an approved arrangement of stud bolts and nuts circuinferen-- tially arranged adjacent to the outer edge'of the front end plate, characterized by the fact that such removal maybe readily accomplished, and further characterized by the fact that the end plate may be swung laterally to permit access to the boiler without straining such supporting means; together with such further and additional objects as may hereinafter be pointed out or appear as this description proceeds. j

In attaining the objects referred to, and in gaining certain additional benefits and advantages to be below disclosed, I have provided certain constructions embodying my present invention, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a loco motive front and embodying one exemplification of my present improvements, the closure being shown in closed position.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view of a portion of the structure of Figure 1, taken on the line 22 of such Figure and ;j I

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, illustrative of a modified form-of construction having mypresent improvements incorporated therein. i

In the drawing, the boiler shell 10 and the front end closure plate ll are held rigidly and tightly together in service condition by position against accidental loss by the cotmeans of a circular row of bolts and nuts 12.

As these parts are all exposed to the elements, the front end plate will tend to stick to the stud bolt-s and to the boiler front, and it, is extremely diflicult to pry the front end plate loose from the boiler front and handle it without elaborate tackle. Furthermore, when it is pried loose special provision must be made to support the weight of the front end plate and to move it away from the boiler opening so as to be able to reach cachbeing provided with aligned openings 15 invertical registration.

Passing through theseopening-s 15 are the pivot pins16, each supported from the upper ear 1 1 by its "head 17, and retained in ter' pin 18. To brace these cars 141- against distortion each bracket support 13 is provided with a rib member 19.

The front end plate 11 is mounted to swing about the pivot pin'16 as a hinge by means of the hinge members 2020 extending laterally'beyond the front end plate 11 and rigidly supported therefrom by means of the bracket members 21-21, each bracket member 21 being provided with two of the hinge members 20. These members 20 encircle the pin 16 so as to permit swinging movement between the members 20 and 1 1, limited to pivotal movement by means of the pin 16.

It will be observed that by virtue of the lateral displacement of the hinge members to the side of the boiler structure the axis of the pivot pin 16 is relatively widely separated from the plane in which lies the nearest of the circular row of stud bolts and nuts 12.

In orderto permit the swinging of the closure plate 11 about the axis of the pivot pin 16 without distortion of'said bolts 12, I have given the openings in said closure plate 11 whereby said closure plate 11 is enabled to rest upon and be supported by said bolts 12 a horizontally elongated form, that is one having greater width than height. This not only permits bringing 'the front end closure member 11 to its predetermined relationship 'to the smoke box ring 23, since any lateral displacement is overcome by the limitation of lateral movement ensuant upon the func tioning of the pins 16, but when the nuts 12 are drawn up on the bolts 12 the plate 11 is supported by such bolts in desired relationship with the boiler and held in such supported position by the nuts 12 changes that may be relatively easily made in existing structures, a construction which has all of the advantages of existing structures with the additional advantages due to the employment of such attachments, as

' hereinabove pointed out.

In Figure 3 of the drawing it will be observed that I have illustrated a modified form of the invention in which the 1 smoke box ring 23 is providedwith a circumferential ring of horizontallyelongated apcrtures 15 whereby the bolts 12 are permitted to move horizontally, and thus in this modified form of the structureI am able to employ my attachments without change in the existing forms of front end closure plate 11 itself.

' By virtue of the marked lateral extension of the members 13 and 20, I am enabled not only to lengthen the distance between the pivot pins 16 and the nearest of the stud bolts. 12, but also to so space away such pivot pins 16 as not to interfere with the line'of vision of the engine men in sighting targets and other signalsalong the edge of the boiler, (which is an advan'tage'ofa value that will be wholly appreciated by those conversant with such matters,) but rather on the contrary to form a target sight;

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

a In combination, a container having an opening, a plurality of stud bolts distributed substantially uniformly around said opening and fixed to said container,'and a closure on said container for closing said opening and provided with a plurality of elongated apertures compleinental to said bolts and of greater length than the diameter of said bolts, said apertures being parallel, and means for mounting said closure on said'con-- tainer including a hinge having its axis at right angles to the'longer dimensions of said apertures and removed sufficiently beyond the axis of the nearest bolt so that the lateral component of inovement'of said closure signed my name. I

HARRY VISSERING. 

